The contract Carnival Corporation & plc signed with Meyer Werft in Germany and Meyer Turku in Finland to build a total of four 180,000 gross ton ships is consistent with the company’s measured capacity growth strategy to replace less efficient capacity with newer, larger and more fuel efficient vessels over time, said Carnival Corporation & plc CEO Arnold Donald
"We are looking forward to executing on the next step in our fleet enhancement plan," said Donald. "At a cost per berth in line with our existing order book, these new ships will enhance the return profile of our fleet," he said in a statement.
Two of the ships will be built in Turku and two at Papenburg. They will be delivered in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
The Papenburg ships will be destined to AIDA Cruises, Carnival group's German unit, which has three ships of about 40,000 gross tons in its fleet. These are among the smallest ones operated by any major contemporary market brand.
